ACC levies are climbing - How your organisation can save with the Accredited Employers Programme

ACC levies are climbing - How your organisation can save with the Accredited Employers Programme

Businesses are facing rising ACC costs

Everyone in New Zealand is covered by the default Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) if they've been injured in an accident. This no-fault scheme covers anyone who gets injured, whether they’re at work, or at home.

The mandatory ACC levy comes at a significant cost to businesses, especially with the sizeable increases announced recently. In addition to rising employer expenditures, employees will also pay more as the earners’ levy deducted from wages increases to cover growing injury claims and healthcare costs.
These higher expenses for workplace injury cover may seem daunting at first, but there is a viable alternative through the Accredited Employers Programme (AEP), an ACC initiative which allows employers to reduce their work levy and manage their financial risk, through self-managing workplace injuries, using a specialist case management provider like Howden Care. 

The Accredited Employers Programme can drive savings and success

From their first day in your organisation to their last, your people are exposed to many risks. Understanding and minimising these risks throughout their employment journey helps your employees and business to thrive.

Now is the ideal time to consider whether the ACC Accredited Employers Programme is right for your organisation. It is an opportune time to capitalise on the additional benefits of the programme, including protecting your business from the effects of experience rating. By opting to partner with a provider like Howden Care, you can ensure customised solutions that deliver strategic and proactive claims management services. We enable increased visibility of injuries and recovery, with the support of an experienced, dedicated team. Your people will benefit from early support and treatment which in turn delivers improved outcomes, less time off work and overall cost savings for all stake holders.

We provide highly specialised injury and illness management solutions that deliver real financial and health benefits to your people and organisation. 

What are the benefits of the Accredited Employer Programme for your business?

The most notable advantages are:

• Greater control and support - when you manage your employees’ injury claims this enables faster decision-making and customised rehabilitation plans. 
• Significant savings - employers can reduce their work levy by up to 90%, depending on their performance and claims management. 
• Enhanced visibility - employers acquire better insight into injury trends, encouraging and enabling proactive management and detailed monitoring and improvement of workplace safety.

Seamless transitions with tangible results

Over the last few years, we have successfully transitioned a wide range of organisations from ACC to Howden Care. Our proven transition framework relies on several integral features, including a dedicated Transition Manager, a comprehensive communications strategy, a full organisational view of the transition to ensure requirements are understood and met, and planned transition meetings to address emerging needs as they arise.

The following case studies demonstrate the positive impact of Howden Care’s transition on workplace care:

Supporting a multinational livestock company transition from an alternative market provider to Howden Care:

With over 16,000 farmer partners, nationwide operations across 14 key plants and employment of 7,000 staff in the peak season, this organisation had several unique needs that Howden Care responded to, to provide better support for staff and managers. Its transition programme included service design workshops with operational and executive stakeholders, tailored manager training, national site visits, union engagement and attendance, development of tailored collateral and regular transition meetings with key stakeholders. 

The organisation has now successfully completed its transition process and is directly engaged with its Howden Care service team, who continue to progress in a strategic partnership journey.

Transitioning a prominent healthcare service from an alternative market provider to Howden Care:

Before working with Howden Care, this organisation experienced increased claim costs and deteriorating claim outcomes on work injury claims. We collaborated to deeply understand and develop internal capabilities, strengths, limitations and desired outcomes. A full case management model was implemented with high levels of engagement and support for occupational health. 

Over ten months, Howden Care achieved a 50% reduction in the number of claims with weekly compensation, an average reduction of 25.7 days less paid per claim, and a claims cost reduction of over 33.5% per claim.

Achieving great results for a home-based healthcare specialist:

This organisation operated under several different models prior to Howden Care. We commenced a three-month transition programme, which included targeted training for the senior leadership team, managers and payroll employees to enhance the ability of those critical to supporting injured employees. 

Over a year, Howden Care achieved a 34% reduction in the number of claims with weekly compensation, an average reduction of 48 days less lost time, and a claims cost reduction of over 40% per claim.

Why choose us?

Howden Care is the most experienced team in New Zealand when it comes to supporting employers on ACC issues and product options to enable better management of the costs associated with AEP.

We can help you thoroughly review whether the Accredited Employers Programme could be a good fit for your organisation. Our team will conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis comparing your ACC options to maximise the potential advantages and savings offered by the programme. To explore how this opportunity could enhance your operational efficiency and financial outcomes talk to us today.

¹Accident Compensation Corporation, Accredited Employers Programme (2025) https://www.acc.co.nz/for-business/understanding-your-cover-options/accredited-employers-programme [accessed 5 May 2025].